Aurora/Naperville Area Reefers: Can I pet your fish?

B

Byteblock

New member
Hi folks! I'm strongly considering joining the hobby and I'm trying to enter it with eyes wide open. While I've been saving up to make sure I have the funds, I've been diligently researching as much as I can online.

Now I'd like to get some real world experience for all the sights, smells, and sounds that are not conveyed in YouTube videos. I'm not looking for a Reef of the Month. I want to see real reef tanks from my neighbors in the Aurora/Naperville/Oswego/Montgomery area!

Before becoming emotionally and financially invested in this hobby, I want to meet and talk with "real" people about their experiences. I want a healthy dose of reality to balance out the glamour online retailers are trying to convince us of in their videos.

So... can I come over and pet your fish? ;)
 
Welcome to CR...lot of reefers around those area...:)

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Byteblock said:
Hi folks! I'm strongly considering joining the hobby and I'm trying to enter it with eyes wide open. While I've been saving up to make sure I have the funds, I've been diligently researching as much as I can online.

Now I'd like to get some real world experience for all the sights, smells, and sounds that are not conveyed in YouTube videos. I'm not looking for a Reef of the Month. I want to see real reef tanks from my neighbors in the Aurora/Naperville/Oswego/Montgomery area!

Before becoming emotionally and financially invested in this hobby, I want to meet and talk with "real" people about their experiences. I want a healthy dose of reality to balance out the glamour online retailers are trying to convince us of in their videos.

So... can I come over and pet your fish? ;)
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[MENTION=189]trackfast[/MENTION] he is...
 
Welcome as well.
I think you are taking the right approach to entering the hobby. See as many tanks as you can and talk to as many hobbyists. There are a vast number of types of tanks out there. Large, small, LPS,SPS, softies,zoas, etc.
There are also as many ways to keep a tank. Lighting, filtration, water flow among the variables. Opinions can very widely on which set ups work the best and what to use. Some have success with one way, others don't.
This makes it slightly more difficult . There always seems to be a current trend, some prove to be worth while, others not. If you can at least see how people have had success , it will help narrow down your choices.
Find the type of tank you want to keep, and go from there.
The tank itself is the cheapest part of the hobby. Other stuff goes way beyond $$ wise.
Your starting the right way, see as much as you can.
The one bad thing about the hobby is, you are dealing with live creatures, and even if you think stuff is set up perfect, be prepared for a little heart ache along the way. Bad things happen sometimes, no matter what.
I hope reefers local to you see this and invite you over.
I'm way out in the boonies, but you can come out and pet my fish.
Any way my.02
Good luck. :)
 
[QUOTENow I'd like to get some real world experience for all the sights, smells, and sounds that are not conveyed in YouTube videos][/QUOTE]

This hobby brings the highest highs and the lowest lows. These are not my words, they just ring true in this hobby.
 
Welcome to CR ! I'm in Naperville just east of the 5thAve METRA station. My set-up is more on the simple side bc I don't have much SPS. LMK when you'd like to stop by.

Victor.
 
Thanks for all the warm welcomes!

I'll send you a PM, [MENTION=189]trackfast[/MENTION].

Anyone else interested? I'm always up for meeting new people!
 
Welcome to that beautiful hobby. No matter how much research you'll do there will be a lot of ups and downs. ;) I'm in Naperville also, right by downtown. Use to have 125 but I downgraded. Now it is 40 Breeder only... :( Let me know.
 
My fish will bite you if you try to stick your hand in there so you need to watch cause it will scare the hell out of you.
 
Arthur said:
Welcome to that beautiful hobby. No matter how much research you'll do there will be a lot of ups and downs. ;) I'm in Naperville also, right by downtown. Use to have 125 but I downgraded. Now it is 40 Breeder only... :( Let me know.
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I will take you up on that! PM incoming. I expect you'd have some interesting personal insights; having gone from a larger tank (as everyone is recommending newbies start with) to a smaller one!
 
Welcome to CR!!! My name is Jim, I live in Plainfield. A few years ago I had a 75 gallon running for about 3 years and then I got out. This hobby is definitely addictive, because I just dove back in with a 29 Biocube. You are more than welcome to stop by.
 
Welcome to the hobby! Being new to this since April my only advice is be prepared to spend money and time. If you don't have sufficient funds to provide a good environment or time to maintain it you'll be better off not trying as everyone I know that I work with that has saltwater tanks that try to cut corners have failed or had issues with algae.

Good luck and if you come up through st Charles happy to show you my tank from a newbie perspective
 
Welcome to the boards! I have had many different types of setup's as my interests in the hobbies have evolved. Typically softie/LPS tanks can be run more "bare bones": good skimmer and a nice Refugium, whereas SPS tanks generally require a bit more involvement equipment-wise. I've ran simple setup's and I've run high end complex setup's (my current SPS tank).

Simpler setup's in all honesty do the job pretty much the same as a setup with all the bells and whistles as long as good general husbandry is followed. In my experience the only real benefit to going the high end complex equipment route is for automation. I like knowing I can leave for vacation and not have to worry, and to also be able to access my tank via wireless connection and to visually check on it with webcams. Peace of mind is worth it for me.

I'm in Warrenville right off of I-88. You are welcome to come by and checkout my setup.



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[MENTION=45]Arthur[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2223]Spartanman22[/MENTION]: Check your PMs! I look forward to meeting you guys.... and your fish!

Thanks for the offers Illinjoe, and jrwoltman. I will probably take you guys up when things take me in your directions.
 
I met up with [MENTION=189]trackfast[/MENTION] this morning... and it was awesome! I loved his setup. No frills, or ludicrously overpriced LEDs, just a tank full of healthy corals and fish. The internet had me convinced that you needed to spend at least $1,000 on lights before you could put SPS in a tank. His montis are all looking amazing, with excellent growth, and for a hell of a lot cheaper than name brand LEDs. His red monti had all the cool crenelations I think most people enjoy from the species. I'm now fully convinced in the other direction, and will not be shelling out for expensive Kessils. One little trip to Naperville just saved me like $700.

I even got to see his shy Mandarin!

Thanks for pointing him in my direction, [MENTION=454]maidia[/MENTION]. I expect I'm going to have to buy some frags of those beautiful corals off you someday too.
 
Byteblock said:
I met up with [MENTION=189]trackfast[/MENTION] this morning... and it was awesome! I loved his setup. No frills, or ludicrously overpriced LEDs, just a tank full of healthy corals and fish. The internet had me convinced that you needed to spend at least $1,000 on lights before you could put SPS in a tank. His montis are all looking amazing, with excellent growth, and for a hell of a lot cheaper than name brand LEDs. His red monti had all the cool crenelations I think most people enjoy from the species. I'm now fully convinced in the other direction, and will not be shelling out for expensive Kessils. One little trip to Naperville just saved me like $700.
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you are right ..
lights are the last part of the equation for a beautiful setup ..
for sps tank i think these things are important
1. stable, matured tank
2. stable water chemistry
3. good flow and good powerful lights ( doesnt have to be $$$$ corals dont read price tags ;) )
4. last but most important .. PATIENCE :)
 
And this afternoon I met up with [MENTION=45]Arthur[/MENTION]! He's got a lovely little 40b that's got a unique aquascape. He manages to make it seem quite deep with rubble rock piled in steps. I've seen a lot of reefs on YouTube and here, but never one like this. He's got some large SPS in there, but it doesn't feel cluttered thanks to way the rubble rock seems small an unobtrusive.

Unfortunately on my way home my car died.... and since it is a MINI that probably means all of my Reef Savings just vanished. :/

I'm so bummed. As I was leaving Arthur's I was pretty much tipped from interested in the hobby to, "Oh yeah, I definitely want to get in on this." But now all my months of research, and savings, are out the window. MINIs are great looking car, and amazing fun to drive, but never own one.
 
Byteblock said:
And this afternoon I met up with [MENTION=45]Arthur[/MENTION]! He's got a lovely little 40b that's got a unique aquascape. He manages to make it seem quite deep with rubble rock piled in steps. I've seen a lot of reefs on YouTube and here, but never one like this. He's got some large SPS in there, but it doesn't feel cluttered thanks to way the rubble rock seems small an unobtrusive.

Unfortunately on my way home my car died.... and since it is a MINI that probably means all of my Reef Savings just vanished. :/

I'm so bummed. As I was leaving Arthur's I was pretty much tipped from interested in the hobby to, "Oh yeah, I definitely want to get in on this." But now all my months of research, and savings, are out the window. MINIs are great looking car, and amazing fun to drive, but never own one.
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Just gives you more time to plan out your system so everything can be done right the first time. You may end up appreciating the extra time

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Byteblock said:
And this afternoon I met up with [MENTION=45]Arthur[/MENTION]! He's got a lovely little 40b that's got a unique aquascape. He manages to make it seem quite deep with rubble rock piled in steps. I've seen a lot of reefs on YouTube and here, but never one like this. He's got some large SPS in there, but it doesn't feel cluttered thanks to way the rubble rock seems small an unobtrusive.

Unfortunately on my way home my car died.... and since it is a MINI that probably means all of my Reef Savings just vanished. :/

I'm so bummed. As I was leaving Arthur's I was pretty much tipped from interested in the hobby to, "Oh yeah, I definitely want to get in on this." But now all my months of research, and savings, are out the window. MINIs are great looking car, and amazing fun to drive, but never own one.
Click to expand...

O no!!! Really? Sorry to hear that :( It was nice meeting you. Hope that you won't spend all savings on car. Unfortunately can't help you with car fixing but if you need help with setting tank up in the future let me know. Good luck:)
 
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